The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-18

unwavering faith in her.
Dec. 81 have received your letter, dear
cousin Jeffrey. Oh, how could you write
like thatl Did YOU know quite how precious
our old-time love was to me that you could
spoil it sos / have grieved that it seemed
at an end, but grie Q far more that it
should end thusl I have deeply searched
nv heart. | would so gladly give you the
love you ask. do indeed love you, but it
is not that No, am sure it is not that.
And you, whom have so greatly longed to
make happy. But why should torture you
with words' Thousands OF things are IN
my heart for you, but | do not know how to
say them If had a mother, Jeffrey-O,
that had!--I think she would weep over
me tonight. I never dreamed of this. 1t
is worse than all. You are next in my
heart, TO my sister, hardly less dear; but
you will not care TO know it since you ask
for another, but surely not trUer love than
that now bear you. God bless you! Your
cousin, BESSIE HARDWOOD.
"Then she did love Hawksl" l groaned,
as if there could be no other reason for hav-
ing refused my love! As if it We're to be
supposed so fine girl could have found her
ideal in me! went back to my work
y 4
What was the matter with the world3
Ny cases went wrong. Everything jan
gled, and was out of tune. Was the fault
mine! If so, could / afford to drag
through my days in this heavy way! The
unsettled and somewhat unusal life | had
led had kept me from being what is called
society man." | said / would try that
phase of life. 1t seemed to come to me
naturally; and thought of the feverish eX-
element with which my father had rushed
into every kind of amusement; how neces-
sary it had seemed, at one time of his life,
that he should be courted and tlattered. 1t
was because he could not bear his own
thoughts! Thus, at almost every step of my
life, recognized in my own lesser griefs
how greatly he had suffered and how ten
der toward his faults his son should be.
was thus far benefited by mixing with my
kind. | heard a wholesome truth of my
self, in not particularly iattering terms,
one evening at a soiree.
jeff Harwood is romantic FOOL" came
to my ears from somebody very near me,
whom could not see for the press of the
crowd.
What do you think is the latest about
him"
Il cannot imagine"
"Why. they say the fellow doesn't marry
on account of boyish 'affaire due occur ;
all on his part, too--with his cousin, Harold
Harwoods sister. The girl, they say, is a
trump. Nursed the old chap after he broke,
and took care of him in the most approved
style until he had the grace to die and re-
lieve her. Then she engaged herself to a
doctor there, a rather slow fellow, but
awfully sure, and rich enough to buy any
woman body and soul. He had the good
sense to die, too, and leave her for some bet
ter fellow; and, instead of breaking her
heart over it, they say she's as bonny and
buxom as ever, which proves that she liked
his money better than she liked him. But
for oil that che too snnGlhIR fO take
HARDWOOD without little wooing on the
strength of Aud Lang Syne."
did he expect that? | never thought
HARDWOOD conceited.n
st seems SO. He went down to see her
once. and on his return wrote to her offer
ing his immaculate self, not doubling that
she would thankfully accept the boon. Or
SO it is presumed The housekeeper at
Harwood Place tells that he received les-
ter from hei-she knew it was from her be-
cause he told her so-when she brought it to
him-and began to read it as if wonderfully
set up, but when ne finished it he shut him
self up in his room, and when he came out
next morning looked liked he had seen a
| ghost"
"Pshaw! Grimes You disgust me with
| your gossip The genuine article, should
say. Discussing ones private affairs with
| ones housekeeper."
ard Craig got it out of the odd lady. He
lives a few miles from HARDWOOD Place.
assure you he vastly enjoyed the joke, and
told it with abundant relish. He was soft
on Queen Bess.' as he calls her, himself, and
think he intends to try his luck again.
Fool for doing it, too. For my part,
should like to see the HARDWOOD pride
brought down a little. No doubt Craig will
succeed if he waits awhile; for, like all
Ghn mo nc D ms and cha1C fnO
poor to carry such high head long"
ALLOW me to suggest that you might be
more careful in speaking of ladies; especial
ly of one whose family entities her to re-
spect, not to mention her own character
do not see how you can take ofHense at the
Harwood pride, since you are barely on
speaking terms with young HARDWOOD"
That's just it. Because don't go back
to Adam for linesof ancestors, all OF those
names l have learned by rote, the fool
thinks himself too good to speak TO me-"
'Ah. all That's the weak spot in youI
armor, is it! But you are mistaken, old fel'
| low. jeff HARDWOOD is the finest young man
know, and much above false pride of birth
though he can afford to hold his head higher
| than most of us. | would advise you not
| to repeat your unmauly remarks about his
cousin where they can reach his ears, or
| will not answer for the consequences. His
| plenty of family pride"
Here Grimes commended family pride
| to an individual | do not like to mention
and to a place where it could hardly have g
fair showing. He added with a muttered
curse:
''Do you think care for his family
prideP / would repeat it to his face. That
| milk-and- water cousin of his is no better
| than any other woman. | could marry heI
myself She'll marry Craig before another
| year, or call Harwood back, according t.
her caprice A woman must marry. 1 un-
| derstand her rolem
1t is impossible to describe the insulting
| tone in which these words were spoken. Al
the hot blood my father gave me rushed
| into my face as l heard them. They were
meant to insult me, though the coward
| could not know that | was 80 near him. But
the disrespect to her! My friend was right
| / could not answer for myself. | asked my
companion, who, of course, had heard every
word, to excuse me. pushed through the
crowd and laid a heavy hand on the speak
| er's shoulder / looked at my watch
''In half hour, | said, Il shall see Mis-
Meredith home. After that | am at YOU
service. Where shall find your
What do you meant he stammered
with an oath
inject me at my Office at o'clock and you
shall know" answered.
| The effort it cost me to control my indig
nation sufficiently to say this instead Of
| knocking him down where he stood almost
! took my breath. 1t was fortunate that
had to return to Miss Meredith. The self